COSCH stands for Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage and represents four years of networking activities of scientists and researchers from other disciplines from twenty-eight European countries. They share a dedication to improving the understanding of optical measurement techniques, applied to various tasks in documentation of material cultural heritage. The COSCH network benefited from the support and funding of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology, commonly known as COST. COST was founded in 1971 as an intergovernmental framework for cooperation in science and technology and is one of the oldest European bodies funding networking in these areas. Cooperation is implemented through the so-called Actions, such as COSCH. A COST Action provides a platform for dialogue and exchange of interdisciplinary knowledge amongst researchers from different academic disciplines, as well as industry and commercial research laboratories.

COST Actions have a funding period of four years. The funding covers networking activities, mainly the cost of organizing and travelling to meetings, conferences, and workshops. Financial support is also available for research exchange visits (so-called Short-term Scientific Missions, or STSMs), training schools, publications, and other dissemination activities. Personnel costs cannot be funded, which distinguishes COST Actions from research projects supported through the framework programmes of the European Union, such as Horizon 2020 and the earlier 7th Framework Programme (FP7) for Research and Technological Development. The networking character of COST Actions is paramount. Despite the lack of research funding, COST Actions have nonetheless a clear scientific focus that guides work conducted in the course of all activities. COST takes a bottom-up approach to the selection of proposals for funding: any kind of scientific objectives held by an international group of researchers may compete for support, if it fits within the COST implementation rules. When accepted, a proposal is transformed into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and is signed by all participating countries. This document defines the objectives, programme of work, its mile-stones and measures to be implemented by the Action. The summary of the COSCH MoU (2012, p. 3) reads:

True, precise and complete documentation of artefacts is essential for conservation and preservation of our cultural heritage (CH). By ensuring access to the best possible documentation of artefacts we are contributing to the enhanced understanding of material CH and help its long-term preservation.